The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 163 Competition Part 3 ()

"Everyone, Lingna-chan and Kitano-sensei are about to enter the theater. Since we haven't applied for filming permission, this live broadcast will come to an end for the time being." Lingna waved at the camera and said, "As usual, I will edit the video and upload it to the Internet. Everyone is welcome to watch it. See you later~"

The cameraman nodded at Suzuna, "It's OK. It's turned off."

Lingna's smile fell. She took out a mirror and looked at her face. She complained, "It's too hot outside. I need to touch up my makeup. Bring me my bag. I'm going to the bathroom."

The cameraman handed over the bag and Suzuna left in a hurry.

Qian Xiaoyi approached Gui Teng Longguang and asked curiously, "Brother Gui Teng, the helper you hired this time is not ordinary. It's actually a well-known video blogger? Are you also going to follow the Internet celebrity route and change your career to become a broadcaster?"

Gui Teng Longguang's face was uncertain, and he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "...Absolutely impossible."

Qian Xiaoyi said: "Although we are competitors, I shouldn't ask these questions, but can you tell me why you invited this Suzuna-chan here?"

Gui Teng Longguang roared in his heart: I want to know too! Who knows why that guy Hiruda would ask this kind of person to come and help? Is he really not making trouble?

But he couldn't say that on the surface, so he changed the subject and said, "Let's go in first, the client is already waiting inside."

It is worth mentioning that the theater they entered was an ancient building. It was not an ordinary theater, but a Noh theater with Japanese cultural characteristics. After they walked in, someone immediately came forward to greet them.

This is a middle-aged man wearing a kimono. He bowed and introduced himself, "I am the person in charge here. Mr. Ashiya has already greeted me. I guess you are the exorcists who have accepted the commission, right?"

They had already seen the content of this commission in the email, which said that a Noh actor in this Noh theater suspected that he was possessed by a ghost. He had found several exorcists but none of them could solve the problem. Just when they were worried, Ashiya Yoshisuke took the initiative to contact them and said that he could introduce them to a reliable exorcist, and so this happened.

"So, where is the client?" Qian Xiaoyi asked, "Can we meet now?"

The person in charge said, "He is preparing to perform backstage now. You can go to the actors' lounge to rest for a while. We can meet after the performance."

"Performance?" Gui Teng Longguang asked, "Do you mind if I can take a look? As for the client's situation, maybe I can learn something by observing his performance."

Qian Xiaoyi said: "Indeed, it is quite strange that someone can perform on stage even though he is possessed by ghosts."

"He...his situation is a little different." The person in charge smiled bitterly, then nodded and said, "Then please come this way. The performance is going on. I will have someone arrange seats for you."

Suzuna arrived late, and the person in charge was very surprised when he saw her and the cameraman next to her. It was only after Kidou Ryuko's persuasion that he reluctantly agreed to let them shoot the video. However, he required that the video must be blurred in post-production, otherwise legal action would be taken. Suzuna naturally agreed.

After quietly entering the theater, the show had already started. Most of the people sitting in the audience were middle-aged and elderly, and there were very few young people. It was similar to the demographics of theatergoers in China.

I have to say that this Noh theater is quite popular. The seats in the audience are almost full, and it was with great difficulty that a few seats were added in the corners for them to sit down.

At this moment, the actors on the stage were performing. The actor in the middle was wearing a Noh mask, which was the mask of a young woman in Noh. Qian Xiaoyi knew this kind of mask. Many classic images in Japanese culture came from Noh masks, such as the well-known "Hannya" female ghost mask, which came from the repertoire of Noh. His understanding of Noh was limited to this. Listening to the ups and downs of the ancient Japanese lyrics on the stage, Qian Xiaoyi sounded like chanting Buddhist scriptures. He almost fell asleep while listening, but from time to time, there would be the sound of Taiko drums and the classic Japanese sound of "Eh~~~~~", which suddenly woke Qian Xiaoyi up. He couldn't fall asleep even if he wanted to. If you asked him to listen to Peking Opera, he could understand a few passages, but he really couldn't appreciate Noh Opera.

"What is this performance about?" Qian Xiaoyi asked Inuyama Heita.

Unexpectedly, Inuyama Heita looked even more confused: "I don't know." He usually doesn't watch Noh plays.

It was still Guido Ryuko who said, "This is the play 'Killing Stone'. It tells the story of how Tamamonomae was sealed in a stone and turned into the monster 'Yagan', and was persuaded by Xuan Weng to surrender."

"Ah... Tamamonomae, ah... I understand." Qian Xiaoyi folded his arms and nodded.

Inuyama Heita: Obviously I don’t understand at all.

After enduring for a long time, the show finally ended. According to the person in charge, the client was about to appear on stage.

Because Noh originated from the "Sangaku" introduced during the Tang Dynasty, there are many plays with Chinese backgrounds, such as "Yang Guifei" and "Handan". Although these Noh plays with Chinese backgrounds originated in China, after thousands of years of evolution, their core has completely become unique to this country. It can be said that they are just a shell and have nothing to do with the original version.

The next play is "Prince Lanling's March into Battle", which belongs to "Gagaku", with only music and dance but no plot, so it is somewhat different from ordinary Noh plays. It is regarded as the ancestor of Noh plays and will appear in various national festivals. It is a very important play in Japan.

According to ancient records, the "Prince Lanling's March into Battle" here retains most of the rhythm and rhythm of the Tang Dynasty, but the original version has long been lost and no one knows whether it is true.

Qian Xiaoyi rubbed his face and looked at the stage seriously.

This play is a one-man show. After the musicians in the background played the light and eerie flute music, Lanling King appeared on the stage wearing a hideous golden mask and a red robe. The moment he appeared on the stage, the entire theater became silent, as if everyone was waiting for this moment.

The sound of the 羯鼓 rang out one after another, and Prince Lanling moved slowly, his dance looking solemn and quiet.

Although he did not understand Noh, Qian Xiaoyi felt a sense of desolation coming towards him, which surprised him a little. He could feel that the guy on the stage seemed to have something special. This dance was more like a religious dance than a performance, with a certain divinity.

After the play, which Qian Xiaoyi found incomprehensible, ended, the actors left the stage. Soon, the person in charge came to them in a panic and said, "Everyone, come with me quickly."

Qian Xiaoyi and Inuyama Heita looked at each other. It seemed like something went wrong.

Following the person in charge to the backstage, everyone saw the "Lanling King" who had just performed on the stage. He was now facing away from them. When he noticed someone coming, he slowly turned around and looked at them through the mask without saying a word.

Gui Teng said doubtfully: "Is this... possessed by a ghost?"

(End of this chapter)